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Justin Evans has been one of Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino's most decorated trainers in recent years.

On Sunday afternoon, the 37-year-old Evans won his, 2,000th race when his horse Curlina Curlina won a 6 and 1/2 furlong maiden claiming race.

"It feels great to get that win," Evans said. "You reflect on a lot of things and I've been blessed. I have a great family who supports me through ups and downs, I have a tremendous team of workers on my team, I have great owners and I've had some tremendous horses through the years."

Evans has won at a rate of 23.7 percent throughout his career and his horses have won nearly $24.4 million.

Among the top horses he has trained include Concord Fast, Mt Veeder, Hightened Interest, Homerun Bertie, African rose and Icy Tobin. Some of the big races Evans has won include the Riley Allison Derby, the Mine That Bird Derby, the Harry Henson stakes race and the Bill Thomas Stakes race at Sunland Parrk.

"It's been a great career and one of the best horses I've trained was Concord Fast," Evans said. "He was just a talented horse, worked hard and when he own the Mine That Bird Derby, he ran great."

Next Sunday shaping up to big day of racing

On Feb. 24, the next round of prep races for the March 24 Sunland Oaks and Sunland Derby will take place.

In the Sunland Oaks, a field of eight will do battle. Victim of Love, who has been impressive in her last two starts, will run for trainer Henry Dominguez. Also in the race are Parade of Roses and K P Slickem, who went 1-2 in last month's Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park.

In the Mine That Bird Derby, the talented New Mexico bred Hustle Up will tackle open company for trainer Todd Fincher. Hustle Up has won 7 of 9 lifetime and has won all three career starts at Sunland Park. There are nine horses overall in the Mine That Bird Derby.

Also on Sunday will be the 1 and 1/16th miles Curribot Handcap for horses three-years-old and up.

Runaway Ghost, who was the 2018 Sunland Derby winner, returns for his second race of 2019 and is coming off a nice win in the Fort Bliss Stakes.

Evans will try and beat Runaway Ghost with a trio of horses: Pendleton, Hereditary and Raagheb.

"The Curribot is a great race and my horses have been training well. Runaway Ghost is a great horse," Evans said.

Fast Gator wins La Coneja Stakes race

Fast Gator jetted to an early lead and turned back an attack from Tijuana to earn a driving win in the $85,000 La Coneja Stakes at Sunland Park Track & Casino on Sunday.

Under jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr., the multiple stakes winning filly by Diabolical sped away to fractions of 22.50 and 45.42 seconds for the first two calls while opening up a sizeable lead.

When challenged by Tijuana at the top of the stretch, Fast Gator found another gear and pulled clear to a convincing two-length win in the six furlong race for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares. The 2017 Senora Stakes winner looked like her old self with a sparkling win over a solid field. She caught the distance in a fast 1:08.98. The winning trainer was Henry Dominguez.

Fast Gator earned $51,000 for owners Kirk and Judy Robison of El Paso. The fast sprinter has won 7 of 10 races in her brilliant career.

Jess Bein The Hero is top qualifier for $128,500 West Texas Maturity

Jess Bein The Hero, runner-up in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (Grade 1), was the fastest qualifier for the $128,500 West Texas Maturity after four trials held on Friday.

The six-year-old Valiant Hero stallion won his highly competitive 400 yard trial by a half-length and was timed in a fast 19.007 seconds. The supplemental nominee ridden by Manuel Gutierrez won for the 11th time in 16 starts and earned a 104 speed index. The multiple stakes winner won the Sam Houston Challenge Championship last April 21 at Sam Houston Race Park. On Dec. 30, the superb Quarter Horse was second only beaten a length to Jessies First Down in the 2018 Championship at Sunland Park. Jess Bein The Hero has earned nearly $272,000.

Jess Bein The Hero qualified for the West Texas Maturity next month at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.(Photo: Courtesy)

Hobbs America Derby winner Believe Me Irene ran a great race to win the 4th race. She rocketed to victory in a time of 19.023 seconds. Alonso Rivera was the winning pilot.